ABSTRACT
The foreign policy behaviour of convergence or divergence from multilateral norms is arguably effectively shaped by a socio-cultural context defined by interpersonal and cultural relationships among Malawian and African leaders. Mainstream approaches to international relations such as neo-liberalism and neo-realism privilege structure over agency in a state’s foreign policy choices. The ideas and beliefs include “mental constructs held by individuals, sets of distinctive beliefs, principles and attitudes that provide broad orientations for behaviour and policy”. Ordinarily, structuralist approaches would assume that a small state such as Malawi consistently aligns its foreign policy choices with the common practices found at a multilateral level. A similarly singular foreign policy position by Malawi manifested itself in 2012 during President Joyce Banda’s short tenure of office. Malawi’s regard for the convergence of its foreign policy interests with other African states is also explained by the social unity among its leaders, expressed in them cooperating against external influence.
